DOMAIN NAME SERVICE RESOLVER

• US 20120303735A1
• Filed: 08/07/2012
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Limelight Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Limelight Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Raciborski, Nathan F., Gordon, Michael M., McCarthy, Nils H., Harvell, Brad B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,417,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/212
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery

Abstract

A domain name service (DNS) resolver returns Internet protocol (IP) addresses. A connection with an Internet application or device receives domain name resolution requests that originate outside of the Internet. A direct DNS resolver identifies IP addresses without referring to the Internet or using other DNS resolvers. An address store includes a predetermined list of domain names and corresponding IP addresses specified from a point remote to the DNS resolver. The DNS resolver processes the domain name resolutions for the predetermined list of domain names differently than domain name resolutions for other domain names not on the predetermined list of domain names. At least part of the predetermined list is pushed to a destination upon receiving a resolution request for a domain name in the predetermined list of domain names, the request being of a type other than an authoritative resolution request to be performed by the direct DNS resolver.

Claims

1. A domain name service (DNS) resolver for returning Internet protocol (IP) addresses, the DNS resolver comprising:

a connection with an Internet application or device, wherein the connection receives domain name resolution requests that originate outside of the Internet;

a direct DNS resolver that identifies IP addresses without referring to the Internet and without using other DNS resolvers;

an address store, wherein the address store comprises a predetermined list of domain names and corresponding IP addresses that are specified from a point remote to the DNS resolver, wherein the DNS resolver processes the domain name resolutions for the predetermined list of domain names differently than domain name resolutions for other domain names not on the predetermined list of domain names; and

a cache of domain names different from a predetermined list of domain names,

wherein at least part of the predetermined list is pushed to a destination upon receiving a resolution request for a domain name in the predetermined list of domain names, the request being of a type other than an authoritative resolution request to be performed by the direct DNS resolver.

2. The DNS resolver for returning IP addresses as recited in claim 1, wherein the domain name resolutions for the predetermined list of domain names are handled by the direct DNS resolver prior to any handling by a recursing DNS resolver that queries one or more DNS servers on the Internet after receiving domain name resolution requests, and wherein other domain name resolutions are not handled by the direct DNS resolver prior to any handling by the recursing DNS resolver.

3. The DNS resolver for returning IP addresses as recited in claim 1, wherein the direct DNS resolver does not process a domain name resolution if a domain name associated with the resolution is not on the predetermined list of domain names.

4. The DNS resolver for returning IP addresses as recited in claim 1, wherein the connection receives the domain name resolution requests on a port not normally used for conventional DNS domain name resolution requests.

5. The DNS resolver for returning IP addresses as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined list includes at least some host names for the domain names.

6. The DNS resolver for returning IP addresses as recited in claim 1, wherein the DNS resolver is within an operating system of the Internet application or device.

7. The DNS resolver for returning IP addresses as recited in claim 1, wherein the DNS resolver is located away from user computers.

8. The DNS resolver for returning IP addresses as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined list is updated when a domain resolution requests matches a domain on the list, but a host name on the domain resolution request cannot be found on the list.

9. A DNS resolver for returning IP addresses, the DNS resolver comprising:

a connection with an Internet application or device, wherein the connection receives domain name resolution requests that originate outside of the Internet;

a direct DNS resolver that identifies IP addresses without referring to the Internet and without using other DNS resolvers;

an address store, wherein the address store comprises a predetermined list of URL portions that are determined at a point accessible with the Internet, wherein the DNS resolver processes the domain name resolutions for the predetermined list of URL portions differently than domain name resolutions for other URL portions not on the predetermined list of URL portions,

wherein at least part of the predetermined list is pushed to a destination upon receiving a resolution request for a domain name in the predetermined list of domain names, the request being of a type other than an resolution request to be performed by the direct DNS resolver.

10. The DNS resolver for returning IP addresses as recited in claim 9, wherein the differential processing of the domain name resolutions for the predetermined list of URL portions and the domain name resolutions for the other URL portions not on the predetermined list of URL portions comprises differential initial assignments to the direct DNS resolver or to another resolver.

11. The DNS resolver for returning IP addresses as recited in claim 9, wherein the predetermined list includes IP addresses corresponding to the URL portions.

12. The DNS resolver for returning IP addresses as recited in claim 9, wherein the connection receives the domain name resolution requests on a port not normally used for conventional DNS domain name resolution requests.

13. The DNS resolver for returning IP addresses as recited in claim 9, wherein the URL portions include domain names and/or host names.

14. The DNS resolver for returning IP addresses as recited in claim 9, wherein the address store avoids time-to-live tracking for IP addresses.

15. The DNS resolver for returning IP addresses as recited in claim 9, wherein the predetermined list is updated when a domain resolution requests matches a domain on the list, but a host name on the domain resolution request cannot be found on the list.

16. A method for resolving an IP address for a domain name resolution request, the method comprising steps of:

receiving, in a non-recursive manner, a list of possible domain name resolution requests and corresponding IP addresses in advance of the possible domain name resolution request being requested;

storing the list in an authoritative address store;

receiving the domain name resolution request;

determining if the domain name resolution request corresponds to any on the list; and

processing the domain name resolutions request to identify a corresponding IP address, wherein the processing depends on whether the domain name resolution request corresponds to any on the list;

determining whether the request is of a type other than an authoritative resolution request; and

upon determining that the domain name resolution request corresponds to one on the list and upon determining whether the request is of a type other than an authoritative resolution request, pushing the list to a destination.

17. The method for resolving the IP address for the domain name resolution request as recited in claim 16, wherein the corresponding IP address is identified locally when the domain name resolution request corresponds to any on the list.

18. The method for resolving the IP address for the domain name resolution request as recited in claim 16, wherein the second-listed receiving step comprises a step of receiving a cookie that comprises information about an Internet application or device originating the domain name resolution request.

19. The method for resolving the IP address for the domain name resolution request as recited in claim 16, wherein the IP address corresponds to at least one DNS server at a content delivery network (CDN).

20. The method for resolving the IP address for the domain name resolution request as recited in claim 16, further comprising steps of:

determining the list is out of date; and

requesting an updated list.